A 75-year-old man was in "serious but stable condition" Friday morning after he was shoved to the ground by a Buffalo, N.Y., police officer intent on enforcing a curfew implemented to curb unrest following the death of George Floyd.
The Buffalo Police Department's initial statement claimed "one person was injured when he tripped & fell" in a scuffle between police and protesters, but video footage of the incident shared by WBFO has prompted an internal investigation into the incident.
In the graphic clip, the still-unidentified man can be seen approaching the police Thursday and then tries to speak with them. Someone can be heard shouting "push him back," which prompts one officer to raise his baton and the other to forcefully shove him.
The man then loses his balance, falls to the ground and audibly smacks his head against the pavement. The Erie County Medical Center said he was stable but remained in serious condition on Friday.
Both officers involved have since been suspended.
"I was deeply disturbed by the video," Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said in a statement. "After days of peaceful protests and several meetings between myself, police leadership and members of the community, tonight's event is disheartening."
The incident came during the 10th day of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody on Memorial Day. The 46-year-old was approach by authorities in Minneapolis after he allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill.
Video of the incident, which has sparked unrest and protests nationwide, shows ex-officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes while three other cops look on. All four officers have since been fired and charged in connection with the incident.
